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Young Rising Stars Topbill Southern Cross Soloists Two-Part Concert in Kenmore

Eager for a wonderful night of music? On two Sundays this December, the internationally acclaimed chamber ensemble, Southern Cross Soloists (SXS), will hold a concert series at the Church of Christ on Brookfield Road in Kenmore as top-billed by eight emerging musicians with impressive abilities.

Expect a delightful night listening to classical music as played by the Sunrise String Quartet, clarinetist Dario Scalabrini and flautist Katya Willett.

But joining them are the next generation of solo artists who will present their fresh and energetic interpretations of music from the Baroque period and compositions from J.S. Bach, Mozart and Mendelssohn, as well as some contemporary original Australian works.

They are Helena Wang, Dario Scalabrini, Julia Hill, Rory Smith, Liam Mallinson, Ann Carew, Jemima Drews, Francis Atkins and Katya Willett.

These rising stars are mentored by Southern Cross Soloists flutist Jonathan Henderson, who also heads the SXS Next Gen Artist program.

“The Next Gen Artists is a platform for young emerging musicians, many of whom will go on to establish orchestral, chamber, and soloist careers both in Australia and abroad,” Mr Henderson said.

“This will be one of the first concerts this year for many of them. With performances put on pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Next Gen artists are very much looking forward to playing for a live audience.

“Beyond playing high level chamber music, their responsibilities extend to the production side of the series. They are heavily involved and have the opportunity to experience planning these events from both back and front of stage. It’s an enormous learning curve for most and they will come away with real-world skills that will serve their musical careers beyond university life.”

Tickets reservations to this two-part concert are via Event Brite:

DATE and TIME	MUSICIANS	BUY TICKET
Sun., 13 December 2020 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm AEST	Featuring Julia Hill, violin / Liam Mallinson, viola / Jemima Drews, flute / Rory Smith, cello	BUY TICKET
Sun., 20 December 2020 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm AEST	Featuring Katya Willet, flute / Dario Scalabrini, clarinet / The Sunrise Quartet: Helena Wang, violin / Ann Carew, violin / Liam Mallinson, viola / Rory Smith, cello	BUY TICKET

Upswing Seen in Kenmore Bridge Club COVID-Safe Online Games

The pandemic crisis might have kept people indoors but it won’t stop bridge players from organising their socials. Since the restrictions, some 200 members of the Kenmore Bridge Club reshuffled their bridge activities to the online platform, building more challenges and bringing more excitement among the players who have never played online before.

Whether it’s to avoid boredom or to reconnect with friends, enjoying a bridge game online has been a fun learning experience. Kenmore Bridge Club members in their 80s or 90s patiently learned and got comfortable using technology like the BridgeBase Online (BBO) platform and Zoom, and the response has been overwhelming.

Tournaments online started to double as the members’ family or friends, some of whom live interstate, also joined the bridge games. Former members, who have stopped playing months before the lockdown due to immobility or sickness, have returned as well.

As of 9 Nov 2020, Kenmore Bridge Club has reopened for in-person gaming amidst strict COVID-19 safety procedures. But the online games are not going away and might likely be adopted as the new normal with two to four tournaments at least five times a week.

For a lot of these members, the weekly bridge games are a much-needed reward, escape, or distraction as they sit and concentrate on their strategy for two hours.

The club is also conducting online bridge lessons with eight 2.5 hours sessions followed by supervised bridge games. Some members also get help for setting up their computers and other gadgets.

For more details about the online bridge games, email anne@russellsynergies.com.au for your inquiries.

Plan Hatched for a Community Hub at Historic Hawbryn House Site

Brisbane City Council could turn the former site of the historic Hawbryn House into a community hub if plans come together and once investigations are complete.

Hawbryn House was gutted by a suspicious fire on 17 Oct 2020.

Since none of the house’s magnificent structure could be saved, Council is considering drawing up a new masterplan that will turn the site into a useful community space.

Councillor Greg Adermann confirmed the plans in a message to his constituents.

“Council is developing a concept plan for the site and will soon be undertaking consultation with key stakeholders and the general public,” he wrote.

The Hawbryn House, a classic Federation house with bells in each room, was originally built in Kangaroo Point for Sir John Pidgeon. It was a prominent site in Brisbane’s social scene for many years and was also once the home of Brisbane’s first solicitors, Maldwyn Montgomery Edwards.

In 1981, the Burton-Jones family bought the house from Mr Pidgeon. According to Joan Burton-Jones, Mr Pidgeon agreed to the sale since Council would not allow him to make further developments on his riverside property.

The Burton-Jones family moved Hawbryn House in set pieces to Anstead on 506 Hawkesbury Road. It was next to the cottage of Harold Gordon Sugars.

Mr Sugars lived in Sugars Cottage since the 1920s. After his death, the cottage became part of the Hawbryn site.

The Hawbryn House was integral to the Australian Open Garden Scheme to help the Australian Koala Foundation that protects the bushlands in the western part of Queensland.

In 2013, Stefan and Lisa Dopkin bought and refurbished the property. The ownership would once again change hands in 2017 after the Council acquired the property as part of its Bushland Acquisition Programme.

The Council deemed the site of ecological importance, connecting two bushland blocks.

However, over the years, the house became a regular target for vandals, according to the preliminary police reports after the fire. Ms Burton-Jones, who now resides in England, was devastated to see the house crumble in the fire as she watched the news. Investigations are still on-going.

“The one good thing to come from the fire is that the original Sugars Cottage appears to have survived and I know the Moggill Historical Society is keen to provide their input about the future of the cottage as part of that consultation,” Mr Adermann said.

Reinstate Uniform Swap Day: Kenmore State High School Year 12 Students Petition

Photo Credit: Kenmore State High School / Facebook

Year 12 students of Kenmore State High School are petitioning for the traditional Uniform Swap to be reinstated.

Students of Kenmore State High School are petitioning for the reinstatement of Uniform Swap — a traditional celebration where male and female students swap school uniforms. The petition says that the Uniform Swap Day, which they say is an innocent celebration, was banned because of a claim that the celebration teases and ridicules boys who want to wear skirts.

However, the Uniform Swap was not the first to be “taken away” from them, the petition says. Other celebrations they are no longer able to take part in include the 100-day celebration, the mural, the last free dress day as character initials, muck up day and the official Schoolies 2020 celebration.

“The Year 12 Uniform Swap is not performed by students with a satirical and insensitive intention, rather it is a representation of the cohorts’ unity and friendship,” the petition said.

“The normalisation of boys wearing skirts will not be a value within Kenmore State High School unless its admin grants students the opportunity of doing so as a tradition and as a promotion to younger grades (who see us as role models).”

The petition, which has gathered 753 signatures so far, likewise stated that students were told that the school formal will be cancelled if they choose to participate in the said tradition. It is a plan of action that they say is “insensitive and harsh” and will leave students feeling helpless and disappointed.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Education said that the school will put in place a program instead to acknowledge the conclusion of the students’ formal schooling so they can stay focused on the exam preparation. Activities that will be part of the program include a senior formal, a parade, a farewell BBQ organised by their teachers, a special Valedictory celebration, a full day at a theme park.

Kenmore Mitre 10 Absorbs Workers from Closed Down South Brisbane Outlet

Displaced workers at the Lewis Bros Mitre 10 in South Brisbane will start working at the Kenmore site, located at the Kenmore Village Shopping Centre, after the 23-year-old Cordelia Street outlet closed down for good on Sunday, 6 Sept 2020.

Deliveries from the shuttered store will now come from the inner west site as well, which means there will be no job losses or halting of services from the former outlet.

Brett Richardson, the manager at the handyman store on Cordelia St, said that the rents were “unrealistically high” thus they decided not to renew the lease. Warwick Lewis independently owns both the South Brisbane site and the Kenmore store under the Mitre 10 brand.

Photo Credit: Lewis Bros Mitre 10 Kenmore/Google Maps

Currently, the Cordelia St site has no existing development application. With the current public health crisis, the building might remain closed for a long time.

“Sadly this is a common phenomenon in the inner-city… Even when a property owner has no immediate plans to redevelop a site, they often prefer to keep properties empty because they can claim it as a tax write-off. They advertise it for lease at an unreasonably high rent, and when they can’t find any takers, they leave it vacant and declare it as a loss for tax purposes,” Councillor Jonathan Sri posted on Facebook following the business closure.

“The loss of retailers like this means that residents have to drive further away if they need hardware supplies, which in turn generates more traffic, and makes it harder for people to live a car-free lifestyle.”

Kenmore’s Mitre 10 outlet is 12 km off South Brisbane or a 21-minute drive on Milton Rd. The Elizabeth St outlet is closer but it’s owned by a different independent entrepreneur.

Kenmore Views: Rare Brisbane Development Site Up for Grabs

A 3.25-hectare property owned by the Sunland Group is up for grabs in Kenmore. Dubbed Kenmore Views, the site on 20 Margaret Court has existing development approval from the Brisbane City Council.

Kenmore Views was planned as a 96-unit premium townhomes development near the Brisbane CBD and the Indooroopilly Shopping Centre. However, under the new conditions of the Council’s planning parameters, the site will likely be one of the last few townhomes to be built in the western corridor in the next couple of years. Thus, its development approval is now deemed rare.

“In Kenmore, Brisbane City Council planning parameters have effectively ‘banned townhouses’, meaning townhouse sites are becoming increasingly rare and highly sought-after,” Adam Rubie, the development site manager said in a statement.

“At present, there is a very limited supply of new apartments in inner Brisbane, with the inner west representing approximately 4 percent of future apartment supply across Brisbane’s inner city,” he added. “Stock is rapidly declining to a point where our research outlines there will be less than five projects above 50 apartments, under construction across the inner city by the end of 2021.

“For this reason, we are anticipating strong interest for both assets, from local, interstate and international developers and investors.”

The Council voted on banning townhomes and apartment blocks to protect the character of low-density residential suburbs in November 2019. The move came after a series of consultations with the developers and the community since September 2018.

“We regularly see amendments to the plan come through and the plans are a living, breathing thing, so we will continue to see changes going forward, Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said. “These changes are based on the changing needs of the community, based on feedback, and also based on the need to provide more housing in Brisbane as our population grows. It is my belief that low density should be low density, and that is exactly what we are putting forward.”

New Schools Planned Between Kenmore and Indooroopilly, Other SEQ Sites

A special school and three new primary schools are set to be built and completed in 2022-2023 in Queensland’s southeast region, including one that will stand between Kenmore and Indooroopilly in the western suburbs.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced the plans in the Parliament Tuesday, adding that the projects will have an allocated budget of $245 million.

Ms Palaszczuk has identified the location of the special school in Coomera. The new site should ease off the overwhelming number of children in existing special needs schools in Logan (Beenleigh Special School) and Southport (Southport Special School).

The new primary schools, on the other hand, have been planned for Greenbank in North Maclean near Logan, the south of Caloundra, and a yet to be determined suburb in Brisbane.

“A new primary school will also be built at a location to be identified in Brisbane’s inner west,” the Premier said. This school, which will have a $65 million budget, is expected to reduce overcrowding at schools in Indooroopilly, Toowong, Kenmore and St. Lucia.

Education Minister Grace Grace said that there will be an “extensive community consultation process” to determine which Brisbane inner west community will best benefit from having a new school. Preparing Queensland’s education infrastructure will also provide employment opportunities.

“We are focused on getting people back to work as we unite and recover from the global COVID-19 pandemic, with these projects expected to support more than 870 local jobs,” Ms Grace said. “These projects are building on our record investment in building new schools and expanding existing schools in high growth areas.”

MP for Moggill Dr Christian Rowan welcomed the news with much excitement, having campaigned for a new school in Brisbane’s inner west for years.

“Our schools have been so severely overcrowded that classrooms are full, pool and library time is limited, before and after-school care services have long waitlists and demountable classrooms are being erected on school ovals, encroaching on students’ play area,” he said. “I’m so excited they’ve listened to the community.”

Demand Rising For Impressive Brookfield And Pullenvale Acreage

Despite the economic downturn brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, Brisbane’s highly desired areas for buying acreages are reportedly experiencing an upswing.

Suburbs like Brookfield and Pullenvale are attracting plenty of interest from people who are considering a move to a semi-rural property where they can have plenty of outdoor space to relish in the beauty of nature and its natural benefits.

Brookfield and Pullenvale, both ideal areas for acreage living, are experiencing a Renaissance of sorts. In both suburbs, eager buyers are looking at properties that can range anywhere from one to 20 acres.

Those exploring to get back to basics, to slow down their pace, and to figure out how to build a sustainable lifestyle — amid the hoarding and depletion of supplies as highlighted in this pandemic — are finding that these suburbs southwest of the city remain seemingly untouched by modern developments.

Yet Brookfield and Pullenvale are still close to the hub in Brisbane CBD that it’s fine to miss most of what’s happening there. It’s also easy to plan a quick trip to the city when needed.

This 1.12ha property on McMullen Road, Brookfield has its own swimming pool, tennis court, rainwater storage tank and solar hot water. The space is great for riding horses or bikes in the paddocks, with a 360-degree view of mountains and valleys.

Photo Credit: Rachael Spinks/Spinks & Co Residential/Domain

In Kamala Drive, Pullenvale sits a 4ha house that looks like a plantation mansion. Impressive for private and family entertainment, this home has a gourmet kitchen and casual kitchen, as well as an alfresco area with an in-ground pool and spa.

Photo Credit: Paris Arthur/Place Graceville/Domain

Observers note that this trend has been building up for some time. The isolation during the coronavirus lockdown has had people thinking that living close to a densely-populated community does have its drawbacks and risks, as it’s these places where outbreaks usually start.

People are starting to realise that there are other things you can do in your own house than sit on the couch or be stuck indoors. The idea of having a bigger backyard has never been more appealing than today.

At least three distinct markets find the allure of living in Brookfield and Pullenvale — the knockdown market, the city-dwellers and people with money to invest in a bigger property, according to Domain.

No Kerbside Collection for Two Years? Try Upcycling Those Unwanted Items!

Attention: Kenmore, Kenmore Hills, Brookfield, and Pullenvale folks! Brisbane City Council has suspended the annual kerbside collection for two years. Wondering what to do with your large household items that have been earmarked for the kerbside pile? Take a good look at what you can upcycle!

BCC’s announcement has been met with mixed feelings as residents come to terms with another aspect of the “new normal.” For some people, however, the news has sparked a fresh wave of creativity, especially since most simply just have a lot of time on their hand.

Take a look at these upcycling ideas that could give those “unwanted” household items a new lease on life.

Washing Machine Drum… Table!

Here’s an ingenious way to use that stainless drum from your unrepairable washing machine and turn it into a piece of furniture that’s sure to spark many lively conversations at your next (socially distanced) dinner party.

Art studio L’Atelier d’Orel took the spinning drum from an unrepairable washing machine and turned it into this industrial design gem. Follow these instructions to create one at home.

Garden on Wheels

Some people throw their old bikes away or keep them stored away, unused and neglected.

Photo Credit: *Photo credit: www.charlessturt.sa.gov.au*

Other people see an opportunity to plant flowers and make a garden grow!

Raise the Bar!

Got an old computer case? Here’s how you can lift everyone’s spirits!

Nick Pelis of The Mod Zoo turned his computer case into a drinks dispenser. You can use it to dispense beer or coffee! Or both. Not at the same time, of course, unless you have more than one unused computer case lying around.

Fridge Reincarnated!

Turn your old refrigerator into a rustic outdoor cooler. Perfect for backyard barbecues or sizzles.

Photo credit: Pinterest/outdoorfurnitureinspiration.com

One Last Tip : Head to the Tip Shops

After making what you can out of what would have been the pile originally destined for your kerbside, head on out to BCC’s tip shops and resource recovery centres.

Not until you’ve tried your hand at all these DIY stuff first, of course. Here’s one last set of ideas to spur you on. Behold, the ottoman! For when you feel “tired.”

Chris Saad Finds Home, Sweet Home in Fig Tree Pocket

For Chris Saad, who spent years away from his native Brisbane, working in San Francisco’s Silicon Valley, the homecoming that began in 2017 is now all the sweeter, as he exchanged his posh, inner-city digs for a new home in Fig Tree Pocket.

Before coming back to Brisbane, the self-described product & startup builder, serial entrepreneur, strategic advisor, angel investor, and podcaster had made quite a name for himself amidst Silicon Valley’s highly competitive tech environment.

Photo Credit : https://www.chrissaad.com/

Mr Saad was the Head of Product at Uber. He is also a co-founder of the DataPortability Project. “I build strategies, products, messages, brands, ecosystems, standards and startups,” is how he describes what he does.

He and his wife Aliya closed the deal in May 2020 on the purchase of a $2.42 million retreat situated on a quiet, leafy cul de sac in River Park Place.

Photo Credit: McGrath Estate Agents Paddington

The sprawling 1,358-square-metre property, listed by Alex Jordan of McGrath Estate Agents and designed by Tabrizi Home Builders, embodies the laid-back, family-oriented lifestyle that Mr Saad and his wife Aliya have envisioned for their family.

“I think we had this inkling that we wanted to go to a leafy area we were ‘umming’ and ‘ahhing’ and we loved our apartment that we were in but when COVID hit it solidified the idea in our mind about having our own sanctuary. I think, trend-wise, that urbanisation of people moving into the cities will reverse now,” Mr Saad said.

As people used to high-rise apartment living, the couple said that the coronavirus pandemic has given them fresh insights about their priorities in life.

Photo Credit : https://www.chrissaad.com/photographer

“My whole career I had been living in these high rise apartments … but we realised our priority was about our family and creating a sanctuary where family can come and enjoy a special place,” Mr Saad said.

“Sanctuary” is certainly the vibe of his new home, with luxury features that include an outdoor entertainment area with a fire pit, Instagram-worthy gradens, a gourmet kitchen, and other amenities that give the home the qualities of a luxurious, urban retreat.

Both Mr Saad and his wife work remotely so the daily commute to an office that most people deal with was not an issue.

Their new, elevated abode is located metres from riverfront parks, the boat ramp, city express buses, and in the catchment of excellent private and public schools.

Three years after moving back to Brisbane, Chris and Aliya Saad are finally home.